# US 11,305,695 B1 · System and method for enhancing driver situational awareness in a transportation vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,695 B1 - Document ID: US11305695B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/916,803 - Filed: 2020-06-30 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-04 - Assignees: Spirited Eagle Enterprises, LLC - Applicants: Spirited Eagle Enterprises, LLC - Inventors: Jerry K. Hubbell; Alan C. Lesesky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305695B1 ## CPC - B60R 1/081: {avoiding blind spots, e.g. by using a side-by-side association of mirrors} - B60R 1/00: Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles - B60R 1/006: {Side-view mirrors, e.g. V-shaped mirrors located at the front or rear part of the vehicle (combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08; side-view periscopes B60R1/10)} - B60R 1/06: mounted on vehicle exterior {(B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence)} - B60R 1/0605: {specially adapted for mounting on trucks, e.g. by C-shaped support means} - B60R 1/07: by electrically powered actuators - B60R 1/08: involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots {, e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors (B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence)} - B60R 1/082: {using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors} - B60R 1/23: with a predetermined field of view - B60R 1/28: with an adjustable field of view - B60R 16/023: for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems - B62D 49/0614: {equipped with visual aids for positioning implements or to control working condition (optical signalling for vehicles in general B60Q1/26)} - G02B 5/09: Multifaceted or polygonal mirrors {, e.g. polygonal scanning mirrors; Fresnel mirrors} - G02B 5/10: with curved faces - H04B 7/26: at least one of which is mobile - B60R 2300/802: for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract A situation communication display enhances driver situational awareness in a transportation vehicle. The situation communication display includes a display member with a plurality of display surface areas. A first surface area displays a relatively focused driver field of view. Second and third surface areas each display wider driver fields of view. First, second, and third transition zones are located adjacent respective first, second, and third surface areas. The transition zones divide the first, second, and third surface areas and define a visual transition between the relatively focused driver field of view displayed by the first surface area and the wider driver fields of view displayed by the second and third surface areas. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for enhancing situational awareness in a transportation vehicle comprising a tractor and a trailer, said method comprising: locating at least one camera on the trailer of the vehicle; operatively connecting the camera to a local area user network via an onboard access point; upon activation of a trailer brake valve, automatically pairing the camera with a computing device located inside the tractor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the camera comprises a video camera. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the camera comprises a CCTV. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the camera comprises an IP-based digital still camera. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a tablet computer with an integrated display screen. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a web-enabled smartphone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein operatively connecting the camera to a local area user network comprises enrolling the camera on the user network in a secured online user account. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7 and comprising logging in to the user account via a security password. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, and comprising capturing realtime vehicle information using the camera. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, and comprising transmitting the realtime vehicle information captured by the camera to a remote server. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, and comprising recording and storing the realtime vehicle information captured by the camera using an onboard network-attached digital video recorder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, and comprising recording and storing the realtime vehicle information captured by the camera using internal flash memory. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, and comprising using Video Content Analysis (VCA) for automatically analyzing the realtime vehicle information captured by the camera. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the camera is activated automatically without user intervention. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, and comprising combining a plurality realtime vehicle data signal feeds of respective user networks in a single networked multi-user system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the camera utilizes facial recognition technology. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises application software for enabling a dashboard-centric interface with icon tabs for manually activating the camera on the user network, such that when the user clicks on an icon tab, realtime vehicle information transmitted by the camera is output to the user.